Method of and means for transferring designs



(No Model.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. W. OSBORNE.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TRANSFEERING DESIGNS.

No. 282,111. Patented July 31, 1883'.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

JVW. OSBORNE.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TRANSEERRING DESIGNS.

N0."282,111. Patented July 31, 1883.

(No Model) 4 sheets-sfleet 3.

J. W. OSBORNE.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING DESIGNS. No. 282,111. Patented July31,1883.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. W. OSBORNE. METHOD OF AND MEANS FORTRANSFERRING DESIGNS. No. 282,111.Patented July 31, 1888.

Irwanior UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN l/V. OSBORNE, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO\VILTJTAM H. FORBES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING DESIGNS.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 282,111,-da.ted July31, 1883, a Application filed June 24, 18853. (No model.)

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. OSBORNE, of WVashington, District ofColumbia, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of 5 andApparatus for Transferring Designs, of

which the following is a specification.

.This invention has reference to the transferring of designs drawn orimpressed on paper to solid curved surfaces for printing, ornamental, orother purposes. It. is especially connected with the art of lithographictransferring, and with that of preparing cylindrical forms and rolls forcalico and other print- I 5 The object of my invention is to effect thetransfer of a design, in suitable ink, to acylindrical orsimilarly-curved surface, so that every part of the design may occupy adefinite and previously-determinable relation to a line,

real or imaginary, upon the surface of said cylinder, parallel to itsaxis and to the circumference of a circle coincident with thecylindrical surface, and at right angles to the axis of the same. Theobject is, further, to accom- 2 5 plish this result with certainty andprecision every time that such transfer is made.

In lithography, when a transfer is made to a flat stone or flat zincplate, good results are obtainable without serious difficulty, and whensuch transfers are made to two or more printing-surfaces, each of whichhas afterward to print in its special color its independent de sign inregister upon the same sheet, and which must therefore be relatively incorrect position, the methods now practiced, with the exercise ofjudgment and care, will insure success. This is not the case, however,when the attempt is made to apply the same methods of transfer to solidzinc cylinders intended for printing, or to coppercylinders for theprintof lithography, which art involves transferring in its highestdevelopment, a design is carried by the application of 1 pressure fromthe surface of paper to that of a flat stone, from which impressions areafterward to be printed, 5 5 it is not necessary that the position ofthe design shall bear any exact relation to the edges of theprinting-surface; nor is this necessary even when a number of designsare transferred each to its own stone, all to be at terward printed inregister 011 the same sheet. The printer is in these cases indifferentas to the exact position of the general work, provided every part of itwith respect to the other parts is correctly located, because in thepress each stone admits of being moved in'all directions before it isprint-ed from, and the printer proceeds with this work only after therequisite adjustments have been made according to the necessityindicated by a greater or less number of trial impressions.

It will be seen,without lengthy explanation, that analogous adjustmentsare not feasible when the design is on a solid cylinder, that if, p forexample, the general direction of the length of the design is in aspiral direction around the cylinder, corresponding to a diagonalposition on a flat stone, no feasible adjustment applied to the cylindercan make the direction of the design coincident with the eylinders 8orotation.

In the process of transferring to a flat stone, the sheet bearing one ormore designs, commonly denominated the transfer-sheet, is properlydamped and inverted on the stone as the latter lies in the press. Thetransfersheet is then backed with dry paper, the tympan closed over it,and the pressure, usually exerted by a narrow projecting edge of woodcalled a scraper, isthenbrought down upon and across one' end of thesheet, and from that position is caused successively to traverse itsentire length. During this operation care is taken that the sheet isfree to move upon the stonethat is, to stretch and yield under the 5dragging pressure to which it is subjected.

It will be readily seen that this treatment applied in the case of atransfer to a cylinder would rarely lead to successful results, so faras the accurate location of each part of the loo work is concerned, andcannot be relied 011. Everything would depend upon starting absolutelyright-a difficulty which does not exist in flat transferringbecause theslightest swerving ofthe sheet to the right or left, due to a bad start,or to an excess .of pressure at one end of the cylinder, or to unequaldamping, or to all these causes combined, would produce an irreparableimperfection. More over, it is often very desirable for printing andother purposes to cause a transfer design to encircle a cylinder in suchmanner that the design shall be continuous thereon, without beginning orend. The accomplishment of this by the ordinary. methods-that is, byapplying a dragging stretching pressure to one end of the dampedtransfer-sheet, so as to stick it fast, and then letting this samepressure traverse the whole, thereby causing the last work attached,which ends the sheet, to meet that which begins itis possible only byaccident.

This is so because the number of factors effecting such a result are notonly very numerous, but also of a most uncertain character.

The foregoing sketch makes reference only rious appliances differing inconstruction, and

is not dependent upon the specific apparatus hereinafter described,although its use is preferred.

hen a transfer to a cylinder bythe method I have invented is desired,the surface of the cylinder is turned off perfectly true and the lengthof its periphery made precisely equal to that of the work which is to goupon it, with the end margins added, if such there be. \Vhen a number ofsuch transfers are required for chromatic printing or other pur poses,all the cylinders employed are made identical in these respects. A sheetof paper of good quality next prepared of an exactly true rectangularshape, the width being made sufficient to receive the work which is tobe placed upon it, and the length such that when the sheet is damped tothe extent requisite for successful transferring and then caused toencircle the cylinder its ends will meet edge to edge. \Vith this degreeof dampness practical transferrers are quite familiar. Upon this sheetthe several pieces of transferpaper, if there be more than one, with thedesigns, commonly denominated the work, upon them, are disposed so thatthe spaces and margins are conveniently and rightly placed, and are madefast by touches of paste, as is done in the preparation oftransfersheets for flat transferring; but the prepara tion of thetransfersheet for the purpose which I have in view differs from thatordi narily practiced, in that the position of the eseairii work andevery part of it is made to maintain its relation to the sharply-cutedges of the rectangular sheet to which the several pieces are attachedwith the same precision that the several parts maintain their relationto each other. To accomplish this with the extreme accuracy required,mechanical means other than the rule and compass are desirable,(although such tools can be made to answer the purpose with theexpenditure of much time and labor,) and this is especially the casewhen, for chromatic printing, several trans fers have to be made todifferent cylinders, impressions from which must subsequently register.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of thetransfer-sheet with the smaller sheets or desigiriinpressions securedthereon. Fig. 2 is a face view of the templet. Fig. 3 is a face view ofthe printing cylinder having the transfer-sheet disposed and securedthereon. Fig. at is a section on the line or a, Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6are re spectively a side and an end elevation of the cylinder, showingthe transfer-sheet secured thereon by means of the radially-actingclamp. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the printing-cylinder having theremovable guide or ring thereon to secure the adjustment of the metallicplate. Fig. 8 is a view of said ring detached. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectionof the cylinder, showing the mode of applying the meta1- lic platethereto. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the transfer-press Fig. 11 is afront elevation of the same with the hand-wheel detached. Fig. 12 a topplan view ofthe same. Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a front and anend elevation of the transferpress provided with the pulley and weightto overcome its inertia. Fig. 15 is a front elevation, illustrating theimprcssioircylinder and the printing-cylinder with the transfensheet andthe removable bearers or supports for the impression-cylinder.

Fig. 1 illustrates a transfersheet, in which a represents the severalsmall sheets or im pressions or pieces of work,whicl1 are attached tothe main sheet I), and which may be repeti tions of the same design, ormay differ from each other in size and in general outline. These may bemade by the hand of an artist or draftsman, but in the great majority ofcases will be impressions carefully printed with ink of the proper kindon paper prepared for the purpose, as usual, by giving it a starchy orgelatinous surface, which becomes adhesive when dampened. I shall referhereinafter to these as transferdmpressions.

There are various ways in which the sheet lar, and of such length inrelation to the cir cumference of the cylinder with which it isassociated that a sheet of dry paper out to an meet edge to edge andcorner to corner, and

equal length with the plate will, when damped and expanded fortransferring, have a length equal to the circumference of the cylinder.In other words, the length of the templet is to be such that it willproduce a transfer-sheet which will, when damped, exactly encircle thecylinder. This length will be fixed by determining experimentally howmuch space is to be allowed in each case for the expansion of the paper.Through the templet needle-holes c are bored, at places accuratelydetermined, to correspond with the position it is wished to give theregister-marks on each impression. The register-marks on the pieces aare indicated (in an assumed position, for they maybe anywhere) by thesmall crosses in Fig. 1. They are on the original printing-surface, andare printed with the rest of the design, so that their position inreference thereto is invariable.

The sheet of paper 7), before being cut, is laid dry upon a flatsurface. The 'templet is then placed upon it and carefully held down.The paper is then cut around the edge of the plate, and before either ismoved the paper is pricked through the needle holes 0. The sheet is thenready, and the transfer-impres sions are put in place and attached bypassing two needles through the registeranarksin each and through thecorresponding pricked holes in the large sheet, and thus holding each ofthe pieces (4 until the spots of paste are applied. The transfer-sheetso prepared is next evenly d amped in the manner well known toprintersnamely, by placing it between sheets of damp paper. Iprefer tocarry this damping further than is necessary or desirable for goodtransferring, the eifect and object of which are to cause the sheet tobecome longer than the circumference of the cylinder (Z. This cylinderhas scratched upon its surface a very fineline precisely parallel withits axis, (preferably applied when the cylinder is in the lathe,) which,for convenience, I shall calla meridional line,. and which is shown atj, Fig. 3. The damped transfer-sheet is next caused to encircle thecylinder (7', so that its two ends join exactly over this line, thesides of the sheet being at the same time properly spaced from the endsof the cylinder. The ends of the sheet having been accurately broughttogether,

as described, (which operation is much facilitated by the extra lengthof the paper,) a narrow strip of adhesive paper, 0, is laid upon them,so as to quickly unite the two, as in Figs. 3 and l. If the ends of thisstrip are permitted to extend beyond the sides of the sheet, they may beused to hold the line of junction over the meridional line by pastingthem firmly to the surface of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3, or theline of junction may be held in place by any simple clamp actingradially-such, for example, as that repre sented in Figs. 5 and 6, to behereinafter described. If the adjusting of the edges, as detightly.Beyond this the contraction must not be allowed to go, and to check itfurther evaporation from the paper must be stopped,which can be done inseveral ways hereinafter described.

It will be seen that at this stage we have a transfer-sheet, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4,the two ends of which coincide with a true meridian andthe two sides of which lie in planes of circles at right angles to theaxis of the cylinder, all parts of the transfer-sheet being in contactwith the face of the cylinder held by a gentle contractile force, andthe work upon it occupying definite and previously-determined positions.It will also be seen that this same condition of things can beduplicated with precision upon any required number of similar cylindersat will.

The results attained by the manipulations which have just been detailedmay also be ob tained in kind, if not in quality, by certain equivalentmodifications, which I will now describe, but which I do not recommend,as I believe them to be inferior to the method already set forth.

The rectangular sheet 1), instead of being cut shorter than thecircumference of the cylinder d, may be cut longer, so that when thepaper is sufficiently damped and then put round the cylinder itwill lapupon itself at the ends, which lap can then be pasted down and thecontraction allowed to proceed as before; but to insure the correct sizeand position of the work, one end of the transfer-sheet having been madecoincident with the scratched meridional line 011 the cylinder, theother lapping edge has to be made coincident with a pencillineaccurately drawn on the back of the sheet. The pencilline in this casecannot be drawn when the teinplet is in position for cutting the paper,and the position of any line drawn by pencil or pen is much less certainthan one scratched with a point; hence the method is not as reliable asthat just described. In this second case, too, the two edges of thepaper have to be separately adjusted up to the independent lines,whereas in the first described method both edges are brought to the sameline and against each other, and when united can be finally adjusted inposition and there held.

In the description above given I have stated that the transfer-sheetshould be somewhat over-damped before it is applied to the cylinder, theobject being to give time for uniting and adjusting the edges before anystrain finally removed.

4 eeeninzi comes upon them, and to facilitate the uniform contraction ofthe sheet as a whole after the true position of the line of junction hasbeen fixed. The same ends may be reached by surrounding the cylinderwith the transfer-sheet before it is damped or after partial damping,and holding it in an approximately correct po sition in any convenientway, as by very thin and feeble elastic rings, and then completing thedamping and consequent expansion of the sheet without removing it fromthe cylinder. This can be done by surrounding it with damp paper orcloth, or by placing about the cylinder a vessel or box in which a dampatmos phere is maintained. hen the paper has then expanded sufficientlyto bring the end edges together on the meridional line, they are unitedas before, and the damping devices There is in theory no obj ection tothis modification, except, perhaps, the danger of thetransfenimpressions attaching themselves prematurely; but -i n practiceit will be found less convenient and simple, even though the dangernamed were completely guarded against. I

I also adopt the following method of disposing the transfer-impressionscorrectly about the cylinder (1 with reference to the datumlines on itsface actually drawn or conceived to be drawn:

A sheet of thin metal is cut into a perfectly rectangular form, of widthsuitable for the transfer-impressious which are to be distributed uponit, and of length exactly equal to the circumference of the cylinder (7.The metal used must be quite pliant, either by reason of its thinness orthe softness of its com.- p0sition-as, for instance, thin zinc, copper,or brass, or thicker sheets of the alloys containing lead or tin, &c.This sheet of metal is designed to take the place of the rectangularsheet of paper I); but as it can be used repeatedly on cylinders of thesame size, and is not injured in the use, it is not requisite to provide a templet by which to cut it, and to,iudicate the position oftheregister-marks upon it. But other mechanical means and tools (well knownto workers in metals) can be used to give such a sheet exact form andsize and to determine the places with which the registermarks on theimpressiousheets should coincide. These places may be simply marksscratched upon the surface of the metal; but I prefer to here or prickthem through, giving rise to a number of needle-holes similar to thoseused in the construction of the templet, already described, and shown inFig. 2. It will be seen that this sheet of metal resembles in plan saidtemplet very closely, save that its size is such that it exactly fillsthe cylinder when wrapped around it, and the drawing shown in Fig. 2 isan equally correct representation of the sheet now under consideration,the difference in length being totally inappreciable.

In carrying out this modification of my iir vention, I next prepare someadhesive mate rial in a peculiar wayviz., by coating very thin paper onboth sides with a hot solution consisting of glue or glycerine, whichgelatinizes and stiflens when cold, but which will melt again whenheated to a very moderate temperature say, 120 Fahrenheit. This is bestdone by cutting thin paper into narrow strips, and, after dipping thesame in the solution aforesaid, hanging them up to drain. I now placethe sheet of metal on a fiat table, and then, as before described, Iperforate carefully the registeranarks on the transfer impressions withtwo fine needles and enter the same into the corresponding holes in. themetallic sheet, whereby each transfer-sheet can be let fall precisely inits proper place, and can be held there by the needles till fastened.The fastening in this case is done by the adhesive paper, two or moresmall pieces of which, like wafers, are slipped under eachtransfer-impression at suitable places. By simply pressing heavily overthese wafers quite sufficient adhesion is obtained to fasten the same tothe paper and to the metal, and the adhesive material should thereforebe placed where the absence of work upon the face of thetransfer-impression admits of the application of the necessary pressure.The transfer-sheet so constructed is w ready for the cylinder, exceptthat the transfer-impres sions, it not made damp enough before they werelaid down and attached, must have damp paper placed upon them to bringthem to the right condition. The better way, however, is to layout themetal sheet to receive the transferimpressions damp, and to keep them inthat 001 1 dition with damp paper as they are laid down and attacheduntil ready for transfer. A transfersheet of this description, if themetal used is very thin and pliable, may be laid about a cylinder in theway already described and recommended where paper alone is usedtha-t is,one of the straight parallel edges may be laid exactly upon a meridianand the other edge brought up and united with it by pasting pa per overboth; but it will be seen that to make any change or correction in theadjustment ofthe sheet after close contact has taken place is difficult,and in most cases impossible, and that the necessity for any correction(which, it is true, would always be small, but at the same time veryimportant) could only become apparent after the edges had met, because,unlike the paper transfersheet, the metal. cannot be elongated, theedges then united, and the gradual. contraction taken-ad vantage of foradjustment and for the spontaneous and automatic localization of eachpart of the work and its final close embrace of the cylinder withoutirregular strain or slip.

The accurate setting of one edge of the transfer-sheet to the meridionalline may be much facilitated by first laying a steel straight-edge verycarefully on the same, and then by the IIO use of the clamp hereinafterdescribed, and shown in Figs. 5 and 6, holding it fast. The edge of thetransfer-sheet is now made to butt against the straight-edge, andwhen'that is done the clamp is disengaged and again screwed down uponsaid edge, so as to hold the sheet fast while the other edge is broughtround. The objection to this method in most casesis substantially thesame as before-namely, that the slightest error in the position of thestraightedge is much exaggerated when the end of the sheet gets round,and, although it is sometimes very serviceable, (when the width of thesheet is very much greater than its length,) still I prefer to get themetallic transfer-sheet round the cylinder in a way which does notinvolve the accurate setting of one end 011 the meridional line by theeye, while it virtually accomplishes it in an equally efficient manner.

Fig. 7 shows in elevation and in place on the cylinder the deviceemployed for this purpose, and Fig. 8 shows the same in plan unattached.This consists of a ring of soft metal, a, such as lead or an alloy oflead and tin sufficiently "soft to bend to the form of the cylinder (ifcast fully large for the same) by the force exerted by the screw 0. Whenthe cylinder is in the lathe, this ring is put on and tightened up, andthe face at n is turned off radially down to the cylinder-surface, inthe place where it is wished that one of the side edges of thetransfer-sheet shall go. By, the plane so determined the transfer-sheetis applied as follows, (see Fig. 9:) The metal sheet is bent round thecylinder approximately to the cylindrical form. Two or more belts,preferably of rubber, q, are then made to encircle the sheet and crossover the opening between the approaching edges. The side of the sheetnearest to the soft-metal flange n is then brought in contact with thesame all round, and that part of the transfer-sheet which isdiametrically opposed to the ap proaching edges at r is next broughtinto contact with the face of the cylinder, (the position shown in Fig.9,) and, without allowing it again to move from that position or theside edge to leave the soft-metal surface, thejoin ing edges are closedby pulling on the rubber bands g. In Fig. 9 the position of thetransfer-sheet and of the rubber bands is shown just before closing theedges of the former.

- This operation, which is not difficult, renders quite-certain the trueposition of the work upon the cylinder, and the edges at the line ofjunction may be united by pasting paper over them with a suitablecement, as before explained. It will be found, however, that it isimpossible to bring the parallel metallic edges completely into actualcontact, due to the fact that the thickness of the paper used for thetransfer-impressions virtually increases the diameter of the cylinderwhich the metal has to cover. The exceedingly small space thus left isdesirable, because, in whatever way pressure is afterward applied to thetransfersheet, all danger of interference therewith by reason of theincompressibility of the metal sheet is removed, of which the workmancould not feel certain if the edges of the sheet come into actualcontact.

It is obvious that the method just described may be also used for theapplication of a transfe'r-sheet consisting wholly of paper, if the samebe not too soft and yielding at its edge.

After the application of pressure, as herein set forth, and theperfectadhesion of the moist starchy surface of thetransfer-i1npressions has been effected, the metallic sheet may beremoved without disturbing the latter by dividing the strong paperconnecting the edges and applying heat in any convenient way to themetal, beginning at one end of the sheet and preceeding 011 a meridionalline progressively over the whole. The effect of the heat is toinstantly liquefy the adhesive material holding the transfer-impressionsto the sheet-,when the elasticity of the latter lifts it at once andbefore any appreciable heat has been communicated to the paper under it.The heat in this operation is best applied from a gas-burner consistingof aperforated tube the whole length of the sheet.

It will be seen that waxy and resinous compounds might be used in placeof the glue and glycerine to hold the transfer-impressions on themetallic sheet in the first instance, as far as the disengagement ofsaid sheet is concerned; but such are unfavorable when the transfenimpressions have to be subsequently damped upon the back,which iscommonly done.

The soft-metal guide can now be removed and the furthertreatment of thetransfer-sheets on the cylinder proceeded with exactly as when thetransfer-sheet consisted of paper alone.

Having secured the accurate application of the transfer-sheet to thecylinder by either modification of the process above described, the nextstep is to apply pressure to the surface in a manner which will notdisturb what has been done, so as to cause the necessary adhe sion andperfornr the function of the scraper pressure in theordinarylithographic transferpress. This I accomplish by applying localrollingn'essure successively over the whole surface in a transfenpressespecially adapted and designed for the purpose. Such a press is shownin Figs. 10, 11, and 12. In these drawings the cylinder is shown inposition resting on half-bearings in the side framing, s, where it iseasily placed. The impression-cylinder 2?, covered with rubber blanketground to a true surface, or with some equivalent therefor, is carriedby the arms u, clamped to the heavy crossshaft t, which also hashearings in the frame 8.

It will be seen that the manner in which the impression cylinder isconnected with the shaft 2) admits of the very accurate adjustment ofsaid cylinder with reference to the cylinder (Z, which bears thetransfers, so as to make the surfaces of both exactly parallel.

The pressure exerted by the impression-cylinder t is controlled andgraduated through I the intervention of thelever w, which is clamp ed onthe cross-shaft c. This lever consists of a bar of steel, which embracesthe shaft, but which can be released or tightened upon it at any time bymeans of the bolt 00. The position of the lower end of the bar isgoverned by the hand-wheel and screw at 9 and by the stiff spring Thisspringis sufficiently strong to hold the lower extremity of the lever wat all times in contact with the end of the screw ;1 \Vhen, therefore,said screw is depressed by turning the hand-wheel forward, the force soexerted is communicated through the bar w and the shaft 12, on which itis clamped, to the impressioncylinder 1, which is thereby madeto bearwith greater force on the surface the cylinder (1. If the screw at yberelaxed by turning it backward, the opposite effect will be produced,and the spring will finally lift the impressioncylinder off the cylinder(1, leaving the latter free to rei'olve independently of theimpression-cylinder, which is frequently an important advantage. Thisconstruction facilitates a nice adjustment of the pressure applied bythe impression-cylinder, and it also gives to that pressure an elasticcharacter, the quality and range of which depend. upon the length,thickness, and form of the steel bar 10.. Then a cylinder such as d isto be placed in this press, it is lifted high enough to place its axlesonthe upper horizontal edges of the side franr ing, 3, near itsbearings, into which it is then rolled. But to do this it is necessaryto get the impressioncylinder out of the way, which is accomplished byslacking the tap bolt 00 and then bringing the impression-cylinder withits arms over till they hang downward from the shaft e. The constructionof this press, and especially the provision for clamping and freeing thelever '10 on the shaft 1:, enables it to deal with transfer-bearingcylinders which vary considerably in diameter without affecting orinterfering with the devices for applying any of the adjustments ormaking necessary any change of a substantial kind.

To apply local pressure successively to the surface of a cylinder in atransfer-press such as I have described, it is generally sufficient toattach a movable winch-handle, a, to the axis of the impression-cylinderin any convenient way, (as by boring out one end of the latter andfixing it therein by a pin orfeather,) and then causing theimpressioncylinder to revolve in contact with the cylinder bearing thetransfer. This it will drive without difficulty by reason of thefrictional hold taken by the rubber blanket on its surface.

Gearing can of course be used to connect both cylinders, and in the easeof very large and heavy fornrcylinders, where much inertia and frictionhave to b 3 overcome, its use may be desirable; but my experienceconvinces me that it can be discarded in most cases with positiveadvantage; and although it is more convenient, as a general rule, toapply the necessary force to the impression-cylinder, and by it to drivethe other, still it is in certain cases advantageous to turn the latterdirectly, which is best done by means of the movable starwheel b, (shownin Figs. 10 and 11,) whereby a very steady motion may be obtained. Toattach this the winch-handle a must be removed and the clutch c of thestar-wheel tightened upon the end of the cylinder-shalt.

This transfer-press offers every opportunity for damping and redampingthe transfer-int pressions after the removal of the sheet on which theywere distributed, either with the sponge or by passing damp sheetsbetween the two cylinders, as well as for gradually increasing thepressure till all the ink has gone over solidly. 7

After the complete transfer of the ink has been accomplished by themethod just detailed, the paper 011 which the work was printed orotherwise delineated is now to be soaked off, and the ink rolled up inthe manner practiced by transferrers. After this the cylinder may befurther treated in accordance with the nature of the work required ofit, precisely as a transfer to a flat surface would be treated forsimilar purposes.

As the application and manipulations of the transfer-sheet upon thecylinder (1, hereinbefore described, were accomplished while the latterwas supported in its bearings in a transfer-press constructedsubstantially as set forth, the position of said cylinder is favorablefor the immediate application of the pressure requisite to complete thework upon it. If the rectangular sheet consists of strong paper, whichmay be safely allowed to contract until it has seized the'cylinder withconsiderable force, whereby the friction between the transfer-sheet as awhole and the surface of the cylinder is made very considerable, and aslip or shift or the onward creeping of the sheet as aresult ofadvancing local pressure well guarded against, the workman may beginforthwith to turn the impression cylinder slowly and to bring it downvery gradually by setting forward the screw 1 using much care andhelping forward the cylinder (l with his 7 hand sufficiently to overcomeits inertia, or a temporary removable pulley, d, with cord and weight 0,attached to the shaft of the cylinder J, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14,may be used to accomplish.

the same result-that is to say, to so balance the inertia and frictionof the cylinder (Z as to make the least possible demand upon the drivingcapacity of the impression-cylinder t, and reserve as its only functionthe application of a gradually-increasing pressure. These precautionsare necessary, because, as will be seen, the impressioneylinder comes atthe beginning in contact with the paper, and the driving force of theimpression cylinder 2, which is a tangential force, is exerted thereuponand has to be'resisted by the grasp which the transfer-sheet takes uponthe surface of d,- but the danger of slip or of a forward creep of thetransfer-sheet is greatest at the start, and lessens rapidly as thepressure increases, and

rod

it ceases altogether as soon as the starchy sur- 1 strips must be ofequal length. Such coils of face of the transfer-impressions has stuckfast to the cylinder, which takes place long before the ink goes over.It is therefore advisable at the start to make use of a clamp to holdthe transfer-sheet behind the impression-cyh inder, and thereby hinderin the first instance any movement of the paper. The construction ofsuch a clamp is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This consists of the two collarsj", upon which can be adjusted at pleasure the sliding bars g, whichcarry between them the clamping-bar h.

The. collars 7 have set-screws '6, by means of which they can be firmlyfixed upon the cylindershaft in any desired position, but always so thatthe slides thereon (made to receive the bars 9) are parallel. Thesliding bars 9 are provided with clasping-springs k, which bear stronglyupon the outer surfaces of the collars when said bars are forced intoplace, and which, by the pressure they exert, give rise to frictionsufficient to restrain the weight of the clamp above the face of thecylinder, while at the same time they do not prevent its instant removalwhen it is wanted out of the way. The clamping-bar h has in its lowerface an undercut groove, into which a strip of vulcanized rubber ofsuitable length is forced, but allowed to project, as shown in thefigures.

when pressure is required along a meridional line on any part of theeylinder-face,so as to hold the transfer-sheet, the screws Z, which buttagainst the collars f, are turned forward, thereby causing the bars g toslide upon the ways made for them on the sides of the collars, and therubber strip is, in consequence of their movement, pressed forcibly downup on the cylinder, the rubber giving a desirable elastic pressure.

\Vith such aclamp the transfer-sheet can be held so as to prevent thepossibility of a slip when pressure is first applied by theimpression-cylinder; but when such a device is employed I prefer toapply the driving force directly to the cylinder by means of thestarwheel I), so that the pull on the paper may be from the clamp, andlet the impression-cylinder be driven thereby. If necessary, thefriction of the latter can be overcome by aweight in the manner shown inFigs. 13 and 14; but other precautions and manipulations may also beused to facilitate the first application of pressure to the transfersheet, which will greatly diminish the risk of the movement and thenecessity for excessive care. These I now proceed to describe.

On the bare part of the cylinder (1, (see Fig. 15,) outside thetransfer-sheet and at each side of it, a long strip of thin paper offine quality is tightly wound, filling the blank space upon thecylinder, and forming by repeated folds a thickness not less than thatof the transfer-sheet, after which the end of each strip is fastened bya touch of paste. These paper m form bearers, on which theimpression-cylinder-rests in the first instance, and by friction againstwhich the impression-cylinder drives the cylinder which carries thetransfer-sheet. The paper forming these bearers may be applied while thetransfer-sheet is shrinking, if the workman is expert; but it is betterto do so before the transfer-sheet is placed around the cylinder. Whenthe transfer-sheet has contracted sufficiently and has clasped thecylinder tightly, the impression cylinder is let down upon the bearers.These prevent it pressing upon the transfer-sheet at all, or let it doso very slightly. In the latter case, which is the condition of thingsaimed at, after a revolution or two of the larger cylinder, an equalamount of-the strips of paper on both sides is torn off, whereby thebearers are made thinner, and the impression-cylinder is again made totraverse the surface wit-h heavy pressure. Then another portion is tornfrom each bearer, and so on, rapidly dropping the impressioncylindermore and more upon the transfer-sheet, until the transferrer feelscertain that the adhesive surface of the trans fer-in1pression hasattached itself firmly to the face of the cylinder. The bearers may thenbe entirely removed and the pressure continued with out them on thetransfer-impressi ons them selves, after removing the rectangular sheetabove them, and after damping said transferimpressions on the back by asponge, or by the intervention of damped sheets passed between thecylinders, or by both methods, as

practiced by transferrei's.

It is evident that very thin metal bands or other pliant material can beused as well as paper to furnish the temporary bearers just described.These, as well as paper strips when they are used, should be wound up onthe cylinder in such a direction that the fric tional contact oftheimpression-cylinder shall tend to wind them up more tightly. Nor isit indispensable in reducing the thickness of the bearers that piecesshould be torn off at intervals, for they may be simply allowed tounwind themselves from the start, in consequence of which the impression-cylinder will approach the cylinder (Z continuously, saidapproach amounting for each revolution of thelatter to the thickness ofthe paper or metal band employed.

By such means and by the gradual increase of pressure, the ink is madeto let go the paper and to go over solidly to the surface of thecylinder, after which the paper may be soaked off and the transferredwork upon the cylinder rolled up, etched, or otherwise treated,according to the judgment and requirements of the workman.

In describing my method of bringing the ink upon the transfer-sheet intocontact with the cylindrical surface by permitting the same to contractthereon, I have heretofore de scribed the sheet in each instance ascompletely encircling the cylinder. stood, however, that the same methodmay be It should be underapplied although the sheet maybe of a length.insufficient to encircle the cylinder, provided the ends of the sheet,previous to contraction, are secured against movement "circumferentially upon the cylinder. 'They may be thus secured by means of a clampor clamps such as hereinbefore described, or by any equivalent means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In the art oftransferring, the method of placing, adjusting, and holding atransfersheet upon a cylindrical surface, which con sists in firstmaking said sheet accurately rectangular, then placing and attachingupon the same the transfer impression or impressions with reference totwo intersecting edges of the sheet, then expanding said sheet bydamping, then placing the same upon the cylinder and causing its twoopposing edges to meet throughout their length upon a line parallel tothe axle of said cylinder and securing said edges together, and finallyallowing said transfer-sheet to contract by evaporation of water used todamp it, whereby it clasps and holds the cylinder tightly, substantiallyas described.

2. In the art of producing printinforms on cylinders for printing inregister, the method of transferring to such cylinders, which consistsin first preparing a rectangular transfersheet bearing designs intransferable ink upon its surface, said designs being located with reference to two intersecting edges of the sheet, then covering thecylinder with said transfersheet, so that the opposite edges meet upon aline parallel to the axis of said cylinder, then securing said edgestogether and causing the transfersheet to tightly clasp the cylinder,and then transferring the design by suitable radial pressureappliedsuccessively to all parts of the sheet, substantially asdescribed.

I11 the art of transferring, the method of accurately carrying over to adefinite position on the surface of a cylinder a design or designs onpaper in transferable ink, which consists in placing a sheet having twoof its edges at right angles and bearing said design or designs,arranged with reference to said edges about and in contact with thecylindrical surface, and disposing it thereon with reference to a circleand a straight line on said surface, then holding the sheet fast againstlateral movement, and finally applying pressure to the same to force theink into intimate contact with the cylindrical surface, substantially asdescribed.

4. In the art of transferring, the method of folding a transfer-sheetupon a cylinder preparatory to the application of pressure there to,which consists in first expandingsaid sheet by moisture to a lengthgreater than the circumference of the cylinder, then placing it aboutthe same and uniting its meeting edges, and then contracting said sheettill it shrinks to the length of the circumference and clasps thecylinder tightly by causing the moisture it contains to evaporate,substantially as described.

In the art of transferring, the method of bringing the ink upontransfer-impressions into contact with a cylindrical surface preparatoryto its transfer thereto, consisting in applying said impressions to apaper sheet, expanding said sheet by damping it, passing it around acylinder, uniting its ends, and finally permitting said sheet tocontract by evaporation of the water used to damp it until it closelyembraces the cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In the art of transferring, the method of placing one or moretransfer-impressions in correct position on a cylindrical surface, whichconsistsin first making a'sheet of pliant mate rial accuratelyrectangular, then placing the transfer impression or impressions thereonand attaching them. thereto with reference to two intersecting edges ofsaid sheet, then bending said sheet around and in convenient proximityto the cylindrical surface and placing every part of one of its sideedges so bent ina plane at right angles to the cylinder-surface, thenbringing every part of the face of the sheet bearing thetransfer-impression into contact with the surface of the cylinder, andmaintaining at the same time the coincidence of the bent edge with theplane aforesaid, substantially as described.

7. In the art of transferring, the method of bringing the ink uponatransfer-sheet into 0011- tact with a cylindrical surface preparatoryto its transfer thereto, consisting in expanding the sheet and securingits ends against circumferential movement upon said surface, and finallycontracting the sheet until it closely embraces the surface,substantially as described.

8. A transfer-sheet consisting of a rectangular sheet of pliant materialhaving needleholes therein, and one or more transfer-impressionsprovided with register-marks and located upon and attached to the sheet,with said register-marks in coincidence with the needle-holes.

9. As a means of transferring designs to cylindrical surfaces, acylinder combined with a transfer-sheet bearing the design andencircling the cylinder, with its two ends connected, substantially asdescribed.

10. As a means of transferring designs to cylindri c'al surfaces, atransfersheet, Z1 bearing th e design applied around the cylinder, and astrip, 0, applied to unite and secure the ends of the sheet,substantially as shown.

11. As a means of applying designs in predeterminate positions tocylindrical surfaces, the combination, with the cylinder adapted toreceive a transfer, of a removable ring around the same, and atransfer-sheet bearing the design, seated upon the surface of thecylinder and against the ring, as set forth.

12. The combination, substantially as de- IIO scribed, of a cylinderadapted to receive a transfer, atransfer-sheet bearing the designapplied to said cylinder, and a clamping-bar with means for adjustingthe same to a meridional line on said cylinder and applying a varyingpressure, as set forth.

13. A clamp for holding a transfer-sheet upon a cylindrical surface,consisting of the collars, the sliding bars, and the pressure-bar,carrying the yielding strip, and controlled in its position by thepressure-screws.

14. In a transfer-press, the combination of the rock-shaft, theimpression-cylinder, the

cylinder-supporting arms attached to said rockshaft, and anoperating-lever combined with adjusting devices, and secured to therock-shaft by means, substantially as described, adapted to permit saidlever to be readily secured to or released from the shaft at will,whereby the attendant is permitted to throw the impression-cylinder awayfrom an operative position.

15. In a transfer-press, the combination of the impression-cylinder, itssustaining-arms, the rock-shaft, the elastic lever on said shaft, andthe adjusting-screw and spring operating in connection with the lever,as shown.

16. In combination with the impression-cylinder, its sustaining-arms,and the rock-shaft, the op crating-lever secured to the rock-shaft bymeans, substantially as described, adapted to permit the adjustment andrelease of the lever at will, as described.

17. The method of applying a gradually-increasing pressure to a sheetdisposed on a eylindrical surface, consisting in winding upon and aroundthe ends of the same paper or equivalent ribbon to form bearers orsupports for an impression-roll, and then gradually removing said paper,and thereby lowering the impressionqroll toward the cylindrical surface.

18. In combination with a cylinder adapted to receive atransfer-impression, an impression-cylinder, and bearers or supports forthe latter wound detachably upon the ends of the first-named cylinder.

19. In combination with an impression-cylinder and a cylinder adapted toreceive a transfer-impression, pulleysand weights applied to the latter,substantially as and for the purpose described.

JOHN \V. OSBORNE.

IVitnesses:

PHILIP T. DODGE, NEWTON WYoKoFF.

